COPE: A Student Mental COPE: A Student Mental Health InitiativeHealth Initiative

General Assembly MeetingMonday, September 19, 2011

6 pmHSC 1A3

Meet Our Execs!Meet Our Execs!

President: Mariette LeeSecretary: Lisa KlotzTreasurer: Poonam SudheerVP Volunteers: Faiza Khokar& Sara

HalawaVP Promotions: Rameeshay MubasherVP Events: Richard Wu & Amber ChenVP Communications: Jacob Eappen

WHY MENTAL WHY MENTAL ILLNESS?ILLNESS?

Mental Illness: Fast FactsMental Illness: Fast FactsMental illness affects people of all

ages, education and socioeconomic status, and cultures

1 in 5 Canadians will experience some form of depression at some point

4 out of 10 university students experience depression (!)

Canada’s youth suicide rate is the third highest in the industrialized world

Mental Illness: Fast Facts Mental Illness: Fast Facts cont’dcont’d50% who feel they suffered

depression and/or anxiety have never seen a doctor about it

Most of the time they just don’t know!

Stigma and discrimination is a serious barrier

Mental illnesses can be treated

Why Address this Issue?Why Address this Issue?Living with mental illness is

difficultMost people don’t realize IsolationMotivationSeeking treatment Invisible illness

COPE’s GoalsCOPE’s GoalsA Student Mental Health Initiative

Goals:◦Reduce isolation◦Educate about mental health◦Promote participation◦Reducing barriers by connecting students to resources

ABOUT COPEABOUT COPE

About COPEAbout COPEStudent Mental Health InitiativeFounded in 2008 (We are 4 years

old now!)Won MSU Social Issues Club for

the past 2 years in runningOne of the most active clubs at

McMaster

OpportunitiesOpportunities

1. On-Campus Volunteering

2. Community Placements

3. Volunteering Subcommittee

ON-CAMPUS ON-CAMPUS VOLUNTEERINGVOLUNTEERING

Reaching out to McMaster students

On-Campus: AwarenessOn-Campus: AwarenessAwareness Campaigns

◦Information Tables◦Mental Illness Awareness Week◦Eating Disorders Awareness Week◦Invisible Disabilities◦Brain Week◦Past Event: Speaker Series◦Student Accessibility Services

(formerly CSD)

““The Elephant in the The Elephant in the Room” Room”

Stigma can seem invisible but its effects are not

Action against stigma begins with you and your own recovery.

A powerful symbolWorking towards a

stigma-free campus

On-Campus: Fundraising & On-Campus: Fundraising & EventsEvents

Includes but not limited to:◦24 Hour Sponsored Silence◦Kid’s Help Phone Fundraiser◦Bake Sale Tables◦Origami Roses◦Coffeehouse/ Formal◦Elephant in the Room◦Halloween Carnival

Past Fundraising Events!Past Fundraising Events!

WHO WE WORK WITHWHO WE WORK WITHCollaboration with different organizations

On-Campus OrganizationsOn-Campus OrganizationsHealth Aging and Society Student

Association (HASSA)Life Science SocietyMac Biopsych SocietyMac Psychology SocietyStudent Accessibility ServicesCampus Wellness Center

Off-Campus OrganizationsOff-Campus OrganizationsKids Help PhoneAlzheimer’s SocietyMental Health Rights Coalition

(MHRC)St. Joseph’s HospitalHomestead Christian CareMood Disorders Society of CanadaGood ShepherdCampus Perks

Campus PerksCampus PerksA way for our club to earn

sponsorships by doing the following to engage students:

1) Complete Challenges2) Earn Kudos3) Sponsor Projects

Check it out and make an account!http://campusperks.ca/

COMMUNITY COMMUNITY PLACEMENTSPLACEMENTS

Volunteering in the community

Community PlacementsCommunity PlacementsKid’s Help Phone• Volunteering with

the organization• Assisting with local fundraisers

One-on-one Mentoring• Working with residents directly

(mentoring)• Operational Support (fundraising)• Individual or in groups• Organizing and leading events

Hospital PlacementsHospital PlacementsClinical Volunteering Placement

• Mood and Anxiety Disorders• Acute mental health• Geriatric Psychiatry• Acquired Brain Injury• Close patient contact for inpatients

and outpatients• Commitment of several hours per

week

Mood Disorders Society of Mood Disorders Society of CanadaCanadaNational, not for profit, consumer driven,

voluntary health charity committed to ensuring that the voices of consumers, family members and caregivers are heard on issues relating to mental health and mental illness

Ride Above Depression (Event)Dance for Depression (Event)Application for various placements with MDSC

available on COPE website

VOLUNTEER VOLUNTEER SUBCOMMITTEESUBCOMMITTEE

An excellent leadership An excellent leadership opportunityopportunityIf you choose to, you can get involved with actually organizing and running events alongside with our exec. We have a special subcommittee for any general members interesting in getting unique experiences with coordinating and organizing events. This subcommittee meets once bi-weekly (or needed) – and you can choose which activities you’d like to organize! 

Past event: Coffeehouse!Past event: Coffeehouse!

•COPE Suicide Prevention Coffee House•Student performers•Raised $200 by donation for Suicide Prevention Community Council of Hamilton!

Sub-volunteer CommitteeSub-volunteer CommitteeApplications available now!Applications available now!http://copex.weebly.com/applicat

ions.html

MEMBER BENEFITSMEMBER BENEFITSVolunteering in the community

Why Join COPE?Why Join COPE?Active club on campusSocial Issues Club of the yearWe track all volunteer hours that

you volunteer with COPEGet as involved as you want –

whether you make it to one event, or several throughout the year.

Volunteer Appreciation LuncheonExec Opportunities for 2012-2013